The Artsakh government today announced that mining at the Kashen copper-molybdenum mine will be suspended.

A group of so-called Azerbaijani eco-activists have blocked a section of the Lachin Corridor for the past two weeks, demanding access to the mine where they claim Armenians are engaged in illegal mining.

The Artsakh government says it has reached a deal with Base Metals CJSC, the company that operates the mine, to suspend work at the site and has filed a request with the United Nations to send an inspection team to Kashen.

"The government of the Republic of Artsakh again confirms that the mining industry in Artsakh is carried out according to the highest international standards,” the Artsakh government writes.

The government says it has decided to request an international monitoring team to counter Azerbaijani disinformation about mining in Artsakh.